PRAY FOR OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL INDEPENDENCE STRENGTH FREEDOM U.S. Air Force: Staff Sgt. Andrew D. Simpson Master Sergeant Scott Moller Tech. Sgt. Francisco J. Velasquez Master Sgt. Jeremy Salaver U.S. Army: Private Angelique J. Rosado Master Sergeant Jill Agront Sgt. Hisnard Cadet, Jr. Staff Sgt. Misael Exantus PFC Zaymery Villalobos Special Force Kareem Inniss Spc. Richard Aquilar Captain Gavin Campbell McMahon LTC Douglas Boltuc Sgt. Andrew Gandolfo PFC Francisco Fuentes Melinium PFC Stefan Saindoux PFC Luc-Ambert Saindoux, Jr. PFC Betty Piquion U.S. Marines: 1 st Battalion Carlos Fuentes CPL Daniel C. Monroe RCT Eric Joel Vazquez Sergeant W. Jason Ferris L. Cpl. Alfonso Rodriquez U.S. Navy: Airman Herbert J. Alvarado JE-4/CS3 Jesus Ron Chief Petty Officer John V. Sparkowski Lt. Joseph A. Baugh Cpl. Eric Omar Matos Lt. John R. Esposito AG2/Petty Officer 2 nd Class Michael McGee Fr. Christopher Costigan, Pastor ........ Ext. 302 Cheryl Nicholson ....................................... Ext. 301 Parish Assistant Mrs. Kathy Day ......................................... Ext. 304 Bookkeeper Mrs. Marlene Jean-Baptiste Co-Director of Social Ministry 292-1603 or 481-2550, Ext. 320 Ms. Barbara Powell Co-Director of Social Ministry 292-1603 or 481-2550, Ext. 321 Cheryl Nicholson ....................................... Ext. 312 Bulletin Editor Voice Mail Only: Must Leave a Message Deacon Hernst Bellevue ............................ Ext. 346 Director of Adult Faith Formation English/Creole Baptismal Program Mr. Alvin Ingram ....................................... Ext. 347 Liturgy Chairperson Mr. Tom Gould ......................................... Ext. 348 Plant Manager Mrs. Dulce Sepulveda ................................ Ext. 349 Spanish Baptism Program Elissa Hanson ............................................ Ext.350 Choir Director & Organist Ms. Lisette Joachim.................................... Ext 351 Ministry of Consolation Deacon Evenou Saint-Louis Parochial Archivist ..................................... Ext. 352 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Deacon Trevor Mathurin, Director of Religious Education ........................ Ext. 311 Mrs. Imogene Regan, RCIA Director ................................................. Ext. 314 PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION—APRIL 9, 2017 “Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.”
Transcript
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PRAY FOR OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL
INDEPENDENCE STRENGTH FREEDOM
U.S. Air Force:
Staff Sgt. Andrew D. Simpson
Master Sergeant Scott Moller
Tech. Sgt. Francisco J. Velasquez
Master Sgt. Jeremy Salaver
U.S. Army:
Private Angelique J. Rosado
Master Sergeant Jill Agront
Sgt. Hisnard Cadet, Jr.
Staff Sgt. Misael Exantus
PFC Zaymery Villalobos
Special Force Kareem Inniss
Spc. Richard Aquilar
Captain Gavin Campbell McMahon
LTC Douglas Boltuc
Sgt. Andrew Gandolfo
PFC Francisco Fuentes Melinium
PFC Stefan Saindoux
PFC Luc-Ambert Saindoux, Jr.
PFC Betty Piquion
U.S. Marines:
1st Battalion Carlos Fuentes
CPL Daniel C. Monroe
RCT Eric Joel Vazquez
Sergeant W. Jason Ferris
L. Cpl. Alfonso Rodriquez
U.S. Navy:
Airman Herbert J. Alvarado
JE-4/CS3 Jesus Ron
Chief Petty Officer John V. Sparkowski
Lt. Joseph A. Baugh
Cpl. Eric Omar Matos
Lt. John R. Esposito
AG2/Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael McGee
Fr. Christopher Costigan, Pastor ........ Ext. 302
Deacon Trevor Mathurin, Director of Religious Education ........................ Ext. 311 Mrs. Imogene Regan, RCIA Director ................................................. Ext. 314
PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION—APRIL 9, 2017
“Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.”
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Saint Martha Roman Catholic Church 546 GREENGROVE AVENUE, UNIONDALE, NEW YORK 11553-2145
If thou love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength, thou shall serve Him well.
April 9, 2017
Monday April 10
8:30 AM ............. Jack Pagano
Tuesday April 11
8:30 AM ............. In Thanksgiving for
Jose Patrick Michel
Wednesday April 12 8:30 AM ............. John Prutzman
PLEASE SEE THE HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE INSIDE THIS WEEK’S BULLETIN
FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK
4-9-2017 - Passion of the Lord Sunday
SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR RESURRECTION OF THE LORD SUNDAY
April 16, 2017
Acts 10:34, 37-43 Psalm 118
Colossians 3:1-4 John 20:1-9
Thank you for your generosity to St. Martha’s Parish!
April 2, 2017
5:00 PM Mass ....................................................................... $960.00 7:30 AM Mass .................................................................... $1,638.00 8:45 AM Mass .................................................................... $3,456.00 11:00 AM Mass .................................................................. $2,489.00 12:30 PM Mass .................................................................. $1,442.00 Poor Box ................................................................................. $50.00
(Does not reflect donations made by Faith Direct)
This information does not reflect the Faith Direct weekly/monthly deposits.
This is NOT a substitute for your schedule! Please refer to the schedule
you received from the head of your ministry!
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Scripture Readings
April 10—April 15
Monday, April 10 Isa iah 42:1 -7
Psa lm 27 John 12:1 -11
Tuesday, April 11 Isa iah 49:1 -6
Psa lm 71 John 13:21-33, 36-38
Wednesday, April 12 Isa iah 50:4 -9
Psa lm 69 Mat thew 26:14 -25
Thursday, April 13 Isa iah 61:1 -3, 6 , 8 -9
Psa lm 89 Revela t ion 1 :5 -8
Luke 4:16-21
Friday, April 14 Isa iah 52:13 -53:12
Psalm 31 Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7 -9
John 18:1 -19:42
Saturday , Apr i l 15 Genesis 1 :1 -2 :2
Psa lm 104 Mat thew 28:1 -10
Vocation Prayer
Merciful Father, you sent your Son into the world to free us from the power of sin and evil. Grant that, through the intercession of
the Virgin Mary, our Mother of Mercy, many young men will respond to your call to give of themselves in imitation of Christ the Redeemer. Fill them with the light of your Holy Spirit that they may renounce the power of the world, proclaim truth and freedom, and bring consolation and relief to oppressed Chris-tians. Bless our family of Mercy with numerous holy priests and brothers who will offer our world the testimony of your faith and love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN
Any baptized adult (18 years or older), who would like to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at Pentecost, please contact Mrs. Imogene Regan at (516) 481-2550, Ext. 314. Instruction will be offered in English, Spanish and Creole.
Classes will begin soon!
ANY NEW IDEAS FOR SOUP SUPPER 2017
In the past years Olive Garden and Apollo Diner
graciously and generously donated the soup for our
Annual Soup Supper.
Last year there were suggestions we have the Span-
ish and Creole communities contribute their native
soups.
Now we are looking for new volunteers with ideas,
and suggestions and TIME to help on Monday,
April 10th , from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
Please call the parish center and leave your name
and phone number. (516) 481-2550, Ext. 301
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PADRE MIGUEL ÁNGEL RIVERA: Cel. 516-939-7165
E-mail: [email protected] - Cada martes, de 7:30PM a 10:30PM en el Centro Parroquial, al cos-
tado de la Iglesia, el Padre Miguel se encuentra disponible para dirección espiritual y confesiones. Con-
sulten con el Padre después de la misa..
LA EUCARISTÍA SE OFRECE: Por el eterno descanso de Eugenia Br iones de Cabañez.
GRUPO DE ORACION: Miércoles, 7:00 PM, en el gimnasio.
ULTREYA: Domingo, 11:00 AM en la Capilla.
JUVENTUD SIN FRONTERAS: Jueves, 7:30 PM, Salón Betania.
CORO HISPANO: Ensayo en la iglesia, los viernes a las 8:00 PM.
MINISTERIO DE ACOGIDA: Son los que extienden la bienvenida y entregan
las hojas de canto a los que llegan a la Misa.
MOVIMIENTO FAMILIAR CATÓLICO: Se reúne cada 15 días. Para informarse,
llamar al 516- 554-4503 o al 965-7311..
CENACULO DIVINA MISERICORDIA: Pr imer mar tes, 7:00 PM en la Capilla.
MISA DE NIÑOS Y JOVENES: Cada segundo domingo del mes.
LOS NIÑOS: Cada domingo los niños se reúnen en el Salón Betania para escuchar y compar tir las lec-
turas dominicales.
ESCUELA DE LA PALABRA: Cada mar tes, a las 7:30 PM en San Ladislaus.
PRESENTACION Y BENDICION DE PÁRVULOS: Cada segundo y cuar to
domingos del mes.
EL SACRAMENTO DEL BAUTISMO: El tercer domingo de cada mes, a las 2:30 PM en la iglesia.
Los interesados consulten con la Sra. Dulce Sepúlveda después de la Misa.
DOMINGO DE RAMOS
Después de la reforma de Pío XII en 1955, y de otras reformas realizadas por el Concilio Vaticano II, el Domingo de la Pasión ha
vuelto a adquirir su carácter litúrgico, sin dejar de utilizar los símbolos conocidos por los fieles a través de los años.. En este caso,
la Palabra ilumina los gestos y símbolos que acompañan el primer día de esta semana gloriosa. La bendición de las palmas, durante
el Rito Introductoria de la Misa, puede ir acompañada por una procesión que conmemora la entrada gloriosa de Jesús en Jerusalén.
Tanto estos gestos como la proclamación de las primeras dos lecturas y el canto de las Antífonas apuntan hacia el tema del Evange-
lio según san Mateo, que anuncia la Pasión de Nuestro Señor. Este es el motivo principal de este domingo. Los ramos han de repre-
sentar siempre a los fieles discípulos que se disponen a caminar con Jesús hacia el Calvario y que esperan participar en resurrección
“Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!”
shout the crowds in today’s Gospel. May we always be
ready to share our blessings when we are sent in His
name!
Living Stewardship
We are grateful this week for all stewards in our parish
who aspire to greatness by humbly serving the needs of
all, especially through our various parish ministries.
Darkness covered the earth, on this day the sun refused to shine over the Crucifixion. If the soul of God is in
darkness, so should the sun which He had made. Truly, all was darkness. He had given up His Mother and His
beloved disciple, and now God seemingly abandons Him.
Jesus uttered “Eli, Eli, lamma sabactheni?” “My God! My God! Why has Thou forsaken Me?” The tremen-
dous mystery of a God abandoned by God, the Son calls His Father, God. What a contrast with a prayer He
once taught “Our Father, Who art in Heaven!” In a mysterious way His human nature seemed separated from
His Heavenly Father and yet not separated. It is as the sun’s light and heat can be withdrawn from us by inter-
vening clouds even though the sun remains in the sky. There was a kind of withdrawal of His Father’s Face in
this terrible moment in which He takes upon Himself the sins of the world. The pain He suffered for each of
us, so that we might know what a terrible thing it is for human nature to be without God, to be deprived of a
Divine Remedy and Consolation. It is at this same moment in which He was forgotten, that He purchased for
us the grace of never being forgotten by God.
This, the shortest of the seven cries does not curse those who crucified Him, the Roman soldiers, nor is it a
word of hope to Mary Magdalene or a word of love to John. Not even a word of farewell to His own Mother.
Jesus did not even petition God. Through parched lips and from the depths of His Sacred Heart wells an awful
word “I Thirst!” He asked man, His own creation, to help Him. He asked man for a drink! Not a drink of
earthly water but a drink of love for He thirsted for love. This word was a revelation of the sufferings of a God
without man. In the fourth word, it was a man without God and now it is a God without man. A Shepherd
without His sheep. The thirst of Christ’s love without the soul-water of Christians.
“Love” is a word so often used and so little understood. Love first of all means to give, and that is Creation.
Love means to tell secrets to the one loved and that is Revelation. It is to suffer for the one loved, and that is
Redemption. Love also means to become one with the one loved, not only in the unity of the flesh but the uni-
ty of the spirit and that is the Eucharist. Love also wishes to be internally untied with the one loved, and that is
Heaven. There is nothing more that Christ could do for the vineyard that He hasn’t already done. Having
poured forth all the waters of his everlasting love on our poor parched hearts, it is no wonder that He thirsts for
love.
Dear Jesus you have given all for me and I give nothing in return. You have come to gather the vintage of the
vineyard of my soul and found nothing. Knocked and the door of my soul was closed to you and you asked for
a drink and I gave you only vinegar and gall.
The first three words from the Pulpit of the Christ were addressed to enemies, sinners and saints. The fourth
and the fifth portrays the suffering of Jesus on the Cross. The fourth symbolizes the suffering of man aban-
doned by God. While the fifth is the suffering of God abandoned by man.
By Beverly Gray
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Our path toward understanding continues with The Seven Last Sayings as told by Venerable Fulton Sheen.
God painted the heavens with blue and the earth with green. God then made a beautiful garden and in it placed
man made to conform to the image of His Divine Son. In some mysterious way, the revolt of Lucifer echoed
the earth, and the image of God in man was blurred and ruined.
The Heavenly Father, in His Divine Mercy, willed to restore man to his pristine glory. Three things that coop-
erated in our fall, shared in our Redemption. For the disobedient man, Adam, there was the obedient man,
Christ; for the proud woman, Eve , there was the humble virgin, Mary; for the tree of the garden, there was the
tree of the Cross. The Redemption was now complete. The work which His Father had given Him to do was
accomplished. We were bought and paid for. We were won in a battle fought not with five stones when David
slew Goliath, but with five wounds, hideous scars, on hands and feet and side. Not in a battle fought with ar-
mor glistening under a noon day sun, but with flesh hanging like purple rags under a darkened sky. Not in a
battle where the cry was to “crush and kill,” but “Father forgive.” Not in a battle fought with spitting steel, but
with dripping blood. Now the battle is over. For the last three hours, He has been about His Father’s business
and now with the joy of the strong, He utters the song of triumph, “It is Finished.”
Yes, the work is finished, but is ours? He has finished the foundation, now we must build upon it.
Finally, we are privileged to reflect on the Last Saying of Our Lord, “Father into Thy Hands I Commend My
Spirit” . It takes Him back to the beginning. The Word Incarnate has completed His earthly career and now
goes back to His Heavenly Father who sent Him on the journey of the world’s redemption. He looks longing-
ly back to the Father’s house, and with a loud cry throws His Spirit into His Father’s arms, not with an attitude
of one who was taking a plunge into the darkness, but as one who knew where He was going – to a homecom-
ing with His Father.
He appears to give back His Body to His Blessed Mother at the foot of the Cross. The end is the beginning, for
at the beginning of His earthly life, He was nestled on her lap in Bethlehem, and now, on Calvary, He will
take His place there, once again. He loved her above all the creatures on earth, for she was His Mother and the
mother of us all. He saw her first on coming to earth and He shall see her last on leaving it. Earth had been
cruel to Him. His feet wandered after lost sheep and we dug them with steel. His hands stretched out in the
Bread of Everlasting Life and we fastened them with nails. His lips spoke the Truth and we sealed them with
dust. He came to give us Life and we took His away. That was our fatal mistake. We really did not take it
away, we only tried to take it away. He laid it down of Himself. Nowhere do the Evangelists say that He died.
They say, “He gave up the ghost”. It was a willing, self- determined relinquishment of life. It was not death
which approached Him, it was He who approached death.
Mary Magdalene, the penitent, as usual clings to His feet and there she will be again on Easter morn. John, the
priest, with a face like a cast molded out of love, listens to the beating of a Heart, whose secrets he learned,
loved, and mastered. Mary thinks of how different Calvary is from Bethlehem. Thirty- three years ago, she
looked down at His Sacred Face and now, He looks down to her.
Venerable Fulton Sheen offers this message to us. Our thoughts, words and deeds are recorded for the Final
Judgement. If we live in the shadow of the Cross, death will not be an ending, but a beginning of Eternal Life.
Instead of parting, it will be a meeting. Instead of a going away, it will be an arriving. Perhaps the Father’s
voice will whisper, “You must leave the earth, My child come unto Me”. Then, may we with humble and tri-
umphant faith re-echo the Last Saying of Christ: “Father, into Thy Hands, I commend my spirit”.
By Beverly Gray
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The Mass Intentions Book...
is now open until the end of July. 2017
&
The Bread and Wine Calendar...
is now open until the end of Dec. 2017
he list of names that will appear under this column will reflect ONLY those who are CRITICALLY ILL. The
individual or family member must contact the Parish Cen-ter in order to be placed on the Sick List. Please note the new email address the Parish Center at [email protected] (“PRAY FOR THE SICK” MUST APPEAR IN YOUR EMAIL’S SUBJECT LINE); or come by the Parish Center with your request in writing, no later than Monday. This list will be updated on a monthly basis.
Omnipotent and Eternal God, the everlasting Salvation of those who believe, hear us on behalf of Thy pitying mercy, that, with their bodily health restored, they may give thanks to Thee in Thy church. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Helen Zeiser Edith Lucchi
Mary Barbarito
Carolyn Maffettone
John Mueller
Sophia Kyriakaksis
Julienne Jacques
Mercia Edwards
Leopold Johnson
Ryenne Chelsea Albert ............................................... +March 6, 2017
Hilda I. Compere ....................................................... +March 13, 2017
Marie Therese Ferdinand Hilaire Louis .................... +March 24, 2017
For everything you need to know in faith formation,
Visit WWW.DRVC-FAITH.ORG
Memorialize a loved one with a leaf on
our parish’s Tree of Life, located in
the Church Lobby. If you would like more infor-mation about this lovely memorial, please contact the
Parish Office at (516) 481-2550 Ext 301
THANK YOU to everyone who has donated to my medical fund thus far. I found out my initial campaign (not run by me) has been shut down for an unknown reason. The first campaign helped cover my household bills from missed work, as well as smaller hospital bills. This new campaign is set up in hopes of paying back some of the $90k+ I owe as of now. (This is only one of the two surgeries I have had so far.) It is very possible I will have to claim bankruptcy if I can-not make a good dent. That is a very frightening thought as a single parent. For those of you who either have donated already, or cannot afford to, please do not feel obligated. I ask for prayers for myself and for my family. It has been a very rough couple of months. The new link is www.gofundme.com/lishanson. You can also leave donations at the Parish Center. Every little bit helps, and has helped. God bless and thank you so much. St. Martha’s has been incredible with your generosity.
~Elissa Hanson, Music Director
Dear Lord, As my life declines and my energies decrease,
more than ever hold me by
Your Power, that I may not offend You, but daily increase in Your Love.
Give me strength to work in Your Service till the last day of my life.
Help me to ever have an increasing dread of venial sin,
or whatever would cause the
slightest withdrawal of Your Love; all day long,
and at night keep me close to Your Heart; and should I die, ere the morning breaks,
may I go rejoicing
in that vision of Your entrancing beauty, never to be separated from You. Amen.
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Good Friday
Fr. Ron Rolheiser—Week of April 2, 2017
Good Friday was bad long before it was good, at least from outward appearances. God was being crucified by all that can go
bad in the world: pride, jealousy, distrust, wound, self-interest, sin. It’s no accident the Gospels tell us that, as Jesus was dying,
it grew dark in the middle of the day. Few images are more telling. As Jesus hung upon the cross, seemingly, light gave way to
darkness, love to hatred, and life to death. How can that be good?
Moreover, as he was dying, Jesus no longer seemed divine, powerful, and in control of things, both in terms of what was hap-
pening in the world and in what was happening inside of himself. The world was sinking into distrust and, if the Gospels are to
be believed, Jesus, the incarnate God, seemed to be sinking into a personal doubt, one so gripping that it triggered the words:
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me!” What’s happening here? How can this be good?
To understand what happened on Good Friday we need to separate what was happening on the surface from what was happen-
ing at some deeper place.
The surface event was bad and can never by any imaginary be called good. Sincere religious people, good though weak, out of
fear and weakness were selling out what was best in them and either helping incite the execution of Jesus or standing passively
by and letting it happen. In effect, other than a few strong women who were not succumbing to fear or group-hysteria but who
are too disempowered to practically do anything about it, everyone was aiding in the crucifixion of God, either out of ignorance,
jealousy, or weakness. In Jesus’ own words, darkness was having its hour. The human, social, and political drama that played
out on Good Friday was not good. It showed humanity at its worst before God’s seeming silence.
But there was something deeper happening on Good Friday, a drama was playing out inside the recesses of Jesus’ private soul
and conscience the result of which was antithetical to all that was happening on the surface, in the crowd. Inside his struggle to
accept what was happening in that situation and to accept what was being asked of him, we see the ultimate moral and religious
drama: love struggling with and them triumphing over hate, trust struggling with and then triumphing over paranoia, and for-
giveness struggling with and then triumphing over bitterness.
We see that epic struggle, first, playing itself out in his agony in the garden of Gethsemane where Jesus literally sweats blood in
the face of his options, that is, standing before every form of opposition, hatred, ignorance, and misunderstanding he must de-
cide to either give himself over in trust or to flee in self-preservation. He chooses the former and, we are told, he is then
strengthened by a divine presence.
But acceptance is not exactly full surrender and the next day, on Good Friday, the final test takes place. The angel who strength-
ened him in Gethsemane seems to disappear when he is on the cross and a crushing dark night of doubt now racks him to the
point of making him cry out with what seemingly sounds like despair: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me!” His
acceptance, given to his Father the night before, at this crucial moment, is made infinitely more difficult by the seeming absence
of his Father who had, up to now, had been his very breath. In the face of that seeming abandonment, Jesus had to make a
choice for faith, love, and trust at the rawest level, in ultimate darkness. What’s the choice? What does Jesus do?
In the words of Karl Rahner, Jesus lets himself “sink into the incomprehensibility of God.” He surrenders to God whom he
cannot at that moment feel or understand but only trust. Here’s where Good Friday turns from bad to good, Jesus surrenders
himself not in bitterness, grasping, or anger, but in trust, gratitude, and forgiveness. In that surrender, the struggle between good
and evil, the most epic of all battles, is won.
Ultimately, all that’s wrong in our world will not be vanquished by a morally superior violence, no matter how virtuous are
those who are doing the vanquishing. Good violence will never rid the world of bad violence. We will rid our world of those
powers that perennially crucify God only when each of us, like Jesus, can let our bitterness, grasping, and anger give way to
trust, gratitude, and forgiveness. And, barring being extraordinarily gifted by special grace, we will all, like Jesus, have to let
ourselves sink into the incomprehensibility of God, that is, by trusting even when we don’t understand, by loving even when we
are hated, and by forgiving even when we are being hurt.
All of us will have our Good Fridays, not least in our experience of death. By every appearance, they will look bad, but if we
